Nikki Lindow had heard CU Volleyball coach Liz Kritza鈥檚 tales of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the Tulane team鈥檚 forced relocation to College Station, Texas. Lindow might have even rolled her eyes once or twice; she was a self-described rodeo junkie, an aspiring barrel racer from Erie who had to be prodded into pursuing the sport that would earn her a college scholarship rather than hopping onto the rodeo circuit immediately after high school.
Lindow has learned a lot, undoubtedly grown a lot, over the past week and a half. Her coach鈥檚 stories of Tulane鈥檚 2005 season now register more clearly. Kritza鈥檚 recollections of a community in shock, people helping people and teammates reaching out have come into focus.
Lindow鈥檚 story begins when the rains began falling on Wednesday, Sept. 11. 鈥淚t was crazy on campus,鈥� she recalled. 鈥淪tudents were saying it was exciting, they had never seen anything like this before. Nobody was thinking for a second it was going to be a national disaster.鈥�